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First Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- First Post
‘I used to beat Indians at will': Former legends on India's growing supremacy in chess
India's young chess players are making a global impact and it was evident in the recently-concluded Delhi International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament, where they gave tough fight to experienced stars. Here's what some of the legends said about India's growing dominance in chess. read more India's rise in chess is being noticed by the world now. The recently concluded Delhi International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament clearly showed that young Indian players are taking over and giving tough competition to experienced global stars at the biggest of stages. The tournament was organised by the Delhi Chess Association and saw more than 350 players, including Grandmasters, International Masters, and many rising Indian talents, take part. Several young Indians outperformed big international names during the event. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Indian Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta won the tournament, his record fourth title at the prestigious event. He scored 8.5 points out of 10 to win the trophy and a seven lakh prize money. Belarusian GM Mihail Nikitenko claimed second place and Indian GM Diptayan Ghosh won the third prize. Also Read: Carlsen takes a brutal dig at Gukesh, Erigaisi after winning Norway Chess: 'I can outplay the kids' It was very hard for me: Sanikidze One of the international players, 36-year-old Georgian GM Tornike Sanikidze, struggled to keep up. He was seeded 18th but finished 53rd. Speaking after the tournament, he said, 'This tournament is very beautiful and very hard. There are so many grandmasters, and so many kids. That makes it a very strong tournament. It was very hard for me.' 'I was here in 2013. Even then, I could see the new generation coming. Back then, I was rated 2518, and I left at 2513; that's how hard it was to play Indians. And now? Look at the top 10. There are four Indians. The world champion is Indian. That says everything.' Meanwhile, 50-year-old Slovak GM Mikulas Manik, was equally impressed with Indians. 'India has done remarkable work with its young talents. And it's only getting better. The chess quality here is improving at a rate that's hard to believe,' he said. Also Read: Hikaru Nakamura's WR Chess wins World Blitz Team Championship in controversial fashion: 'This whole appeal thing was a mess' I used to beat Indian girls at will: Rani Hamid Rani Hamid, the 80-year-old legendary chess player from Bangladesh, also shared her honest thoughts on Indian players. 'I used to beat Indian girls at will. It felt good back then. But now, look where India is, and where we are. The difference is too big.' 19-year-old Indian GM Gukesh Dommaraju is the current Chess World Champion. He defeated China's Ding Liren at the age of 18 to win the world title last year. Other Indian players like Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa , and Aravindh Chithambaram are also making waves in the chess world. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Time of India
6 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
'Earlier, I used to beat Indians at will': What global chess stars in their 30s, 50s, and 80s say about India's dominance
Tornike Sanikidze (left), Rani Hamid (right), and playing hall (in the middle) NEW DELHI: After Gukesh Dommaraju won the Candidates last year in Toronto, Garry Kasparov — former world champion and one of the greatest players in history — famously said, 'The 'children' of Vishy Anand are on the loose.' He later hailed Gukesh's achievement as 'shifting tectonic plates in the chess world. ' Kasparov was proved right when, six months later, at the age of 18, Gukesh became the youngest world chess champion in history, surpassing Kasparov himself, who had won the crown in 1985 at the age of 22. Kasparov's prophetic words appear to be coming true. A glimpse of that shift was seen last week at the Tivoli Garden Resort in Delhi's Chhatarpur, where a cavernous hall — large enough to host an indoor football match — was transformed into a battlefield of brains for a week. Playing hall of Section 'A' at Delhi GM Open Tournament. (Special Arrangement) The Delhi International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament, held from June 7 to 14 under the aegis of the Delhi Chess Association (DCA), drew a fascinating mix: Grandmasters (GMs), International Masters (IMs), Women International Masters (WIMs), Candidate Masters (CMs), and Woman FIDE Masters (WFMs) from across the globe. And in that sea of talent, one thing was unmistakable: India's young stars were setting the board on fire, leaving even seasoned players in awe. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo 'It's so much harder now' Take 36-year-old Georgian GM Tornike Sanikidze. After each game, you'd find him stepping out for a smoke, often joined by compatriot and fellow GM Levan Pantsulaia. Their conversations, between drags, almost always circled back to one theme: the fierce challenge posed by India's young guns. 'This tournament is very beautiful and very hard,' Sanikidze, who was seeded 18th but finished 53rd, admitted to after his final round. 'There are so many grandmasters, and so many kids. That makes it a very strong tournament. It was very hard for me.' 'Cricketers Aren't Cattle... ': Harish Thawani on the IPL and Business of Indian Cricket Sanikidze knows what he's talking about: 'I was here in 2013. Even then, I could see the new generation coming. Back then, I was rated 2518, and I left at 2513; that's how hard it was to play Indians. And now? Look at the top 10. There are four Indians. The world champion is Indian. That says everything.' A chess revolution Slovak GM Mikuláš Maník, 50, is no stranger to Indian tournaments; this was his 44th. But even he admits he's been taken aback by the meteoric rise of India's chess scene. 'Every year, the tournaments here get stronger,' Maník observed, often seen outside the playing hall analysing games on a sideboard after a round of play, especially when his opponent was a prodigy. 'India has done remarkable work with its young talents. And it's only getting better. The chess quality here is improving at a rate that's hard to believe,' he added. ' Before, I'd beat Indians at will' Perhaps the most striking perspective came from 80-year-old Rani Hamid, the legendary WIM from Bangladesh and the oldest in the fray. A 20-time national champion and former British chess champion, Hamid has seen decades of subcontinental chess unfold. 'I used to beat Indian girls at will,' she said with a gentle smile. 'It felt good back then. But now, look where India is, and where we are. The difference is too big.' And perhaps the veterans have a point. In all, last week in India's national capital was a snapshot of a global chess community coming to terms with a new order. In this new era, India — with its fearless young players and a growing stable of grandmasters — is not content with being a mere participant. There is a fire in their belly; each one of them wants to win, and without an iota of doubt, India is leading the charge in world chess.
India Gazette
14-06-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
Delhi GM Open 2025: Abhijeet Gupta creates history with fourth title win
New Delhi [India] June 14 (ANI): Indian Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta emerged as the undisputed champion of the 21st Delhi International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament (Delhi GM Open) 2025, scoring 8.5 points out of 10 to clinch a record fourth title at Asia's most prestigious open chess event, according to a release from Delhi GM Open. Gupta, 36, delivered a flawless campaign, remaining unbeaten across 10 rounds. His decisive Round 9 victory over Belarusian GM Mihail Nikitenko gave him the edge, and a final-round draw against IM Aronyak Ghosh secured the title outright. Nikitenko (2520, Belarus) finished second with 8 points, edging Indian GM Diptayan Ghosh (2573) on tiebreaks. Ghosh claimed third place, having impressed with sharp play and a key final-round win over GM Karthik Venkataraman. Despite finishing on 8 points, IM Aronyak Ghosh and GM Aditya S Samant settled for fourth and fifth, respectively, on tiebreaks. The top 10 featured a compelling mix of seasoned professionals and rising stars. Vietnam's GM Nguyen Duc Hoa secured 6th place with 7.5 points, followed by India's top seed GM SL Narayanan in 7th. Armenian GMs Mamikon Gharibyan and Manuel Petrosyan finished 8th and 9th, respectively, both with 7.5 points. Rounding off the top 10 was Kyrgyzstan's IM Tologon Tegin Semetei, who also ended with 7.5 points, highlighting the tournament's diverse and competitive field. Organised by Delhi Chess Association, this year's edition welcomed over 2,500 players from more than 20 countries, including 24 Grandmasters, and boasted a record prize pool of Rs 1.21 crore. Held in New Delhi, the tournament once again cemented its reputation as a vital platform for elite and emerging chess players alike. Meanwhile, Category C, hosted at Tivoli Gardens, Chattarpur, featured 1,250 players and a total prize pool of Rs 35 lakhs. The winner of the section was Dinesh Kumar H from Tamil Nadu, who took home the Rs 4,00,000 top prize. He was followed by Naitik Sethi (Rs 3,00,000) and Sibi M (Rs 2,00,000) in second and third place, respectively. Other notable prize-winners included Gitanesh Phogat, Sai Krishna S., and AGM Yogesh Kumar Gupta, reflecting the remarkable grassroots strength of the Indian chess circuit. As the curtains fall on this landmark edition, Abhijeet Gupta's fourth crown stands not just as a personal milestone but also as a testament to India's growing dominance in the global chess ecosystem, both at the top and grassroots levels. (ANI)
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Historic feat! GM Abhijeet Gupta clinches fourth title at 21st Delhi International Open Chess Tournament 2025
Abhijeet Gupta (middle), Mihail Nikitenko (left), Diptayan Ghosh (right) Indian Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta won his record fourth title at the 21st Delhi International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament 2025, scoring 8.5 points out of 10. The tournament, organised by Delhi Chess Association, featured over 2,500 players from more than 20 countries and offered a prize pool of Rs 1.21 crore. Gupta, 36, remained unbeaten throughout the tournament's 10 rounds. His crucial victory came in Round 9 against Belarusian GM Mihail Nikitenko, followed by a draw with IM Aronyak Ghosh in the final round to secure the championship. Belarusian GM Mihail Nikitenko claimed second place with 8 points, while Indian GM Diptayan Ghosh secured third position based on tiebreak calculations. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! IM Aronyak Ghosh and GM Aditya S Samant finished fourth and fifth respectively, both scoring 8 points. Vietnamese GM Nguyen Duc Hoa took sixth place with 7.5 points, with India's top seed GM SL Narayanan following in seventh position. Armenian Grandmasters Mamikon Gharibyan and Manuel Petrosyan secured eighth and ninth places respectively. Kyrgyzstan's IM Tologon Tegin Semetei completed the top 10, all three finishing with 7.5 points. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The tournament attracted 24 Grandmasters among its participants, establishing itself as Asia's most prestigious open chess event. Delhi GM Open final standing (Image: TOI special arrangements) The Category C section, held at Tivoli Gardens, Chattarpur, featured 1,250 players competing for a total prize pool of Rs 35 lakhs. Tamil Nadu's Dinesh Kumar H emerged victorious in Category C, earning the top prize of Rs 4,00,000. Naitik Sethi secured second place with a prize of Rs 3,00,000, while Sibi M finished third, receiving Rs 2,00,000. Gitanesh Phogat, Sai Krishna S., and AGM Yogesh Kumar Gupta were among other notable prize winners in the tournament. This prestigious chess event showcased both established professionals and emerging talents, reinforcing India's position in international chess competition.
Indian Express
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
FIDE World Cup 2025 could be moved from New Delhi to Goa
The highly anticipated 2025 FIDE World Cup, originally scheduled to be held in New Delhi, may be relocated from the national capital to Goa, The Indian Express has learned. 'The talks are ongoing. While I can't confirm anything at the moment, yes, Goa is the frontrunner to host the World Cup,' Mahesh Candolkar, president of the Goa Chess Association, told this newspaper. The Delhi Chess Association, however, claims to have no information about this change. 'Normally, the All India Chess Federation (AICF) doesn't organise events directly but through state associations. The Delhi Chess Association hasn't been informed about any such development (relocation of the tournament),' said Bharat Singh Chauhan, former AICF secretary and current Delhi Chess Association president. When asked about standard notification timelines regarding the potential relocation of the event, Chauhan added: 'For an international event of this scale, state associations are typically informed six to seven months in advance (if it is to be relocated). We haven't received any communication.' The AICF did not respond to queries regarding the potential change of venue. An email accessed by The Indian Express reveals that the Sports Authority of India (SAI) has also sanctioned Rs. 2.5 Crore to AICF on May 8th 2025, for the purpose of 'hosting of FIDE World Cup to be held in Delhi from 30th Oct to 27th November 2025'. While the exact reasons for the venue change remain unclear, sources close to the chess governing body suggest internal conflicts may be responsible, with potential government intervention to dissolve the current administration and call for fresh elections. Earlier, the AICF General Body, following the National Sports Code, unanimously elected the new set of office bearers for the 2024-27 term in New Delhi in March 2024. New Delhi was initially set to host India's first major international chess tournament since the 2022 Chennai Olympiad, with two AICF officials confirming in March that the biennial tournament, one of the flagship events in global chess, would likely be held at either Bharat Mandapam or Yashobhoomi. If the national capital loses the World Cup, it would be the second potential relocation for a major chess event in India. The Indian Express recently reported that the fourth leg of the 2025 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam tour, also scheduled to be held in New Delhi from September 17 to 24, could be moved to another venue outside India because of a lack of interest from local sponsors. A prestigious biennial knockout tournament, the FIDE World Cup features over 200 players and is one of the most important events for the World Championship cycle, with three out of the eight spots for the Candidates' tournament at stake. The winner of the marquee Candidates tournament will get to challenge the current World Champion, India's D. Gukesh, in 2026.
